Legislation would limit government tracking of mobile devices

By FCW Staff

Jun 16, 2011

House members and senators have finished drafting legislation that would stop law enforcement
officials from tracking the location of wireless devices
without parental consent or a warrant, or unless an emergency is happening, Aliya Sternstein writes in Nextgov.

The measure seeks to clarify when the government can intercept location data
coming from mobile devices that include cell phones,
Wi-Fi-equipped laptops and vehicle navigation units, the article added. Current electronic
surveillance laws don't regulate government access to this information.

Under the legislation, law enforcement agents would need the same
permissions to monitor location information as they now need to
wiretap phone conversations, the story said.